And with what seems like both a blink of an eye and somehow also the longest year on record, 2023 has come and 2024 is well underway. The good news is, you your are still pursuing your goals. The bad news is as time passes they become more difficult to keep in sight. The reasons can range from anything from no time in the schedule, boredom, or even something as simple as not having fun doing their new routine. I have been there, and could argue I am still there. However, recently I have begun using these 3 methods to keep myself honest and compliant with the New Year.
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Make your goals manageable
It is easy to think of the end product when thinking of a goal. For instance, if I wanted to get back in to running, I might make my goal to run a marathon by 2025. While this is a great goal to have, it can be very hard to stay compliant because you won’t experience the joy of completing that goal until the end of the year. Instead, try breaking the goal up into separate pieces. Using the same example, I might make my first goal to be able to run a 5k by March, then a 10k by June, and so on. This way I am constantly experiencing a reward for my hard work, and can make that marathon goal that much more attainable. -
Set time aside ahead of time
Unfortunately, the New Year doesn’t not mean an end to long days and nights. Whether from work, or just having one of those days, it is often our resolution goals that are the first to goal. After all, if I just worked a 12 hour shift, the last thing I want to do is run 2 miles. The best way I have found around this is to set a scheduled time to do your exercise. That way you are almost committing yourself to that time, and it can give you something to look forward to at the end of a long day, -
Make it fun
I cannot say it enough, if you are making a goal to change some aspect of your life, make sure it is something you enjoy doing. To use myself as an example, I have always enjoyed running more so than swimming. While swimming is an excellent workout, it is typically something I dread when it is in my workout routine. Therefore, if I were to make swimming my primary means of exercise, you can best bet that I am going to find every excuse in the book to avoid it. Instead, if I made my goals around running, something I enjoy doing, not only will I take the time to complete it, I will also have fun doing it!
There is no perfect formula for sticking with your New Years resolutions. It can often feel daunting and even scary to accomplish our goals as time goes by. My hope is that by keeping these 3 principles in mind, it will help you stay compliant with those new goals. And if not, our trained team of rehab and exercise specialists are only a phone call away. Reach us at 610-241-2685 to talk to one of our trained staff today!
